If you're a regular reader of this blog, you should know by now that I am technology skeptic. What that means is that the current trend of tech companies moving fast and breaking things does not impress me one bit and anyone who peddles technology for technology's sake is a moron in my eyes.
What it doesn't mean is that I am a complete luddite. I've believed for some time that any technology is only as good as the moral and ethical foundations it's built upon. If the creator of a new technology hasn't thought about the larger societal, cultural and economical implications of their monster creation, then it's only a disaster waiting to happen.
The hubris which we typically see displayed by the silicon valley "entrepreneurs", who by the way, really, really love wasting other people's money has become sickening in how disconnected from real life and real people it truly is. I've written about Silicon Valley culture, Facebook (more times than I care to remember), employees surveillance schemes, etc. There isn't a day where I don't stumble on some news story that only further reinforces my beliefs, by exposing how sick the all-tech religion has become.
You may be wondering: "What can I possibly do?" and you'd be well within your rights to do so. You can educate yourself on the matter by reading Bob Hoffman, EFF, Daniel Miessler and Bruce Schneier blogs, which are only a few of the many resources at your fingertips to learn more about technology and its implications on your life. The amazing EFF also takes one-time or recurring donations, and god knows how much they need funding to keep fighting against the abuses of connected technologies and governments.
As far as I'm concerned, the gloves have come off. The ideological battle against the all-tech religion and its attendant abuses is just starting. As the amazing George Hotz said "Silicon Valley culture needs to die and technology will live on".
We need more public-interest technologists.
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